American Fan Co.
What: Manufactures industrial fans and roof ventilators.
Where: 2933 Symmes Rd., Fairfield
Phone: 513-874-2400
President and General Manager: Greg Card
Website: www.americanfan.com
Employees: 105 full-time
Revenues: Not disclosed
A local business’ safety record — nearly 1,200 days without a lost-time injury — was recognized this week, as Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Administrator and Chief Executive Officer Steve Buehrer visited American Fan Company on Tuesday.
American Fan makes industrial fans and roof ventilators.
Buehrer presented American Fan President Greg Card and employees with a $40,000 check to purchase safety equipment, awarded through one of the agency’s grant programs.
American Fan as of Tuesday has recorded 1,192 days in which no employee had an injury that made them miss more than one day of work, Card said.
“It obviously shows a commitment from the workers here and the management here that safety is important because it not only impacts the health and bringing the workers home safely at the end of the day, but it’s about company business. It’s about being productive and it’s about saving costs, and that’s an exciting thing,” Buehrer said.
The company actually received the grant in October. The money, some of which the company matched, is going to buy equipment that will help reduce the risk of injuries to employees including a press brake work support that lifts and holds sheet metal in position, eliminating the need for manual support; a vacuum lift that transfers and positions sheets; and a magnetic coupling attachment that transfers scrap, in addition to picking up multiple sheets at one time, according to the state agency.
“What we’re trying to do is eliminate overhead lifting, we’re trying to eliminate potential accidents and we’re also trying to improve our efficiency,” Card said.
The amount of money available to businesses through the bureau’s Safety Intervention Grant Program tripled this year to $15 billion, state agency officials said. To participate, an employer must pay into the Ohio State Insurance Fund, maintain active coverage, be current on all monies owed BWC and demonstrate the need for a safety intervention.
Get more information online at bwc.ohio.gov, by contacting regional business manager Erin Rosiello, or call 1-800-644-6292.
Fairfield company American Fan was founded in 1969 by Richard Niehaus. It has operated from its current location, 2933 Symmes Road, since 1979, Card said.
American Fan employees produce various custom-ordered commercial fans for business customers including wind tunnel fans to simulate sky diving, fans for air circulation and cooling motors, and the product the company was founded on — cast aluminum blowers, among other products.
The manufacturer with 105 full-time employees is currently owned by Switzerland holding company Flakt Woods Group. It changes ownership Monday, Card said. It has been sold along with other companies to Howden of Scotland, he said.
Goals are for “the next three to five years we’ll double” revenues, Card said.
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